The Hendricks Award watch list was released today, which has awarded college football’s best defensive end for the past decade. Among those on this year’s watch list are Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina), William Gholston (Michigan State), Jackson Jeffcoat (Texas) and Bjoern Werner (Florida State).

Last year’s winner was Whitney Mercilus (Illinois). Below is the full list.

Also, as a reminder, you can view all of the individual preseason watch lists in one handy repository HERE, and the Hendricks Award watch list below:

After a week’s worth of speculation and rumor, the first Nittany Lion has jumped from the listing Penn State ship.

In a press release, North Carolina State announced that safety Tim Buckley has transferred from the Nittany Lions to the Wolfpack Because of the NCAA sanctions, Buckley will be eligible to play immediately in 2012.

Buckley played his high school football in the state, so the move is a homecoming for the defensive back.

“I am excited to be a member of the NC State Wolfpack,” said Buckley in a statement. “The opportunity to come here and play at my state university, so close to home, was something that I couldn’t pass up.”

Buckley, a two-star member of PSU’s 2011 recruiting class, took a redshirt as a true freshman last season. He will have four years of eligibility remaining.

In addition to Buckley, running back Silas Redd is expected to announce at some point this week — perhaps as early as Tuesday — that he will be transferring to USC. Suffice to say, the loss of Redd would have a much bigger impact than Buckley’s departure.

When Utah opens its second season as a member of the Pac-12, the Utes will do so without the services of a key contributor in its secondary.

Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham announced Monday that safety Brian Blechen has been suspended for the first three games of the 2012 season. Other than the standard “violation of unspecified team rules,” no reason for the disciplinary action was given by Whittingham.

The suspension means the junior defensive back will miss games against Northern Colorado, Utah State and BYU.

As a sophomore in 2011, Blechen played in all 13 games last season, starting one of those contests. He finished third on the team in tackles with 78 and tied for second on the team with three interceptions, earning honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors.

Coming out of spring practice, Blechen was the Utes’ starter at strong safety.

Exactly one week after NCAA sanctions against Penn State were announced and his name was first connected to USC, current Nittany Lions running back Silas Redd is expected to make a decision in short order as to his football future.

If as all the signs seem to indicate that he will head out west to continue his playing career, one current Trojans player would (grudgingly) take one for the team and make room for the talented back.

While not identified by the Orange County Register, the unnamed player told the paper that, if asked by the coaching staff, he would give up his scholarship in order to provide room on USC’s roster for Redd. Because of its own NCAA sanctions, the Trojans are limited to 75 scholarship players this season; the Register writes that, based on its tally, the Trojans are right at that 75-man limit and would need to create roster space to add Redd.

The player, a former walk-on, used words like “heartbroken” to describe having to give up the scholarship he earned, but would understand if it comes to that.

The player said he would be “heartbroken” if it came to that because he had worked so hard to earn the scholarship. However, when the player initially received it, Kiffin explained that it was a year-to-year deal and that the player might have to give it back if USC’s roster limitations left no other recourse.

Although losing his scholarship would be a source of frustration, the player said he would remain with the squad. “I love this team,” he said.

The player said he understood the current situation regarding Redd and how his addition would improve the team’s chances to win the national championship. While hopeful of keeping his scholarship, the player would be willing to sacrifice it if absolutely necessary. I found his team-first approach to a potentially unpleasant situation admirable.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported earlier today that a decision from Redd is expected Monday. However, Redd’s hometown newspaper, the Hartford Hour, reports that no decision is expected until Tuesday at the earliest. Redd is currently headed back to the East Coast and will spend the day Tuesday talking over his decision with family and friends.